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The Smithereens - Blown To Smithereens: The Best Of The Smithereens Audio CD

A fair review of the The Smithereens "Blown To Smithereens: The Best Of The Smithereens" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Smithereens reviews here, or go back to the The Smithereens tabs.

The Smithereens Band: The Smithereens
Title: Blown To Smithereens: The Best Of The Smithereens
Rating:
Release Date: 1995-04-04
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Beauty and Sadness 2: Strangers When We Meet 3: Blood and Roses 4: In a Lonely Place 5: Behind the Wall of Sleep 6: Only a Memory 7: House We Used to Live In 8: Drown in My Own Tears 9: Girl Like You 10: Blue Period 11: Blues Before and Afterr 12: Yesterday Girl 13: Top of the Pops 14: Too Much Passion 15: Miles from Nowhere 16: Time Won't Let Me [From Timecop]

A++++++One of America's finest plays all their hits for you!
From their minor hits, to major smashes like A Girl Like You, The Smithereens Best Of is a treasure trove of great songs. This band is truly an American treasure.

Obscure ones like Strangers When We Meet make this album worth its weight in gold.

Buy ten of 'em. . . . . give them to your friends.

Smash!.


The Bridge Between Old And New Rock
g. The Smithereens were the musical link between rock tradition and new wave rock, equally at home on active rock (e. KISW, KUFO), adult album alternative (e. g. KMTT, KINK), alternative (e. g. KNDD, KNRK), and classic rock (e. g. KZOK, KGON, WBLM, KCRX, KOZZ, KEGX) radio stations. The hard-rocking guitars are similar to 70s/80s hard rock artists such as AC/DC, Montrose, Ted Nugent, Foghat, and Iggy Pop, while the pop-style song structures align the band with such 60s pop groups as the Beatles, the Searchers, the Byrds, and the Lovin' Spoonful. The only thing about this collection that makes me intolerant of anyone "different" is that "Time And Time Again" was left off in favor of the goopy ballad "Too Much Passion. " Otherwise, this is a wonderful anthology that could easily supplement ESPECIALLY FOR YOU and GREEN THOUGHTS, the Smithereens' exceptional first two long-players. .


Blown to Smithereens
They did have a lot of singles that performed well on the charts but their albums didn't do as well. The Smithereens were a group that should have gotten more recognition than they did. Many of their songs were Beatlesque but with more rock, somewhat similar to R. E. M. but more pop. This best of compilation didn't make Billboard's Top 200 chart.

The album opens with "Beauty and Sadness", when you listen closely it sounds similar to the Beatles "Ticket to Ride". The next song, "Strangers When We Meet", has a distinct Top 40 sound. "Blood and Roses" is one the Smithereens best songs with it's pulsating beat & distinctive bass run, it went to #14 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks. I must confess I love these rock songs that are in a minor key. "In a Lonely Place" is the first song that slows the tempo & slips into a piano-bar mode but has a lovely acoustic guitar in it. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" was their first charting single & peaked at #23 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks. This one pumps the rhythm back into high gear & another one of those songs in a minor key. "Only a Memory" was #1 (their only song to do so)on Mainstream Rock Tracks & #92 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's a catchy pop/rock song that will have you tapping your foot. "House We Used to Live In" peaked at #14 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks & is typical in the Smithereens jangly pop/rock vein. "Drown in My Own Tears" peaked at #34 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks is rhythm guitar driven which is typical for the group. "A Girl Like You" was #2 on Mainstream Rock Tracks, #3 on Modern Rock Tracks & #38 on the Billboard Hot 100. If memory serves me correct this video was in heavy rotation on MTV. "Blue Period" might be the weakest song on the album. It's a slow tempo song that reminds me too much of most Top 40 fodder. It's plain & ordinary. "Blues Before and After" peaked at #7 on Mainstream Rock Tracks, #18 on Modern Rock Tracks & #94 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's heavier than most Smithereens songs returning to the guitar driven & pulsating beat. "Yesterday Girl" peaked at #20 on Mainstream Rock Tracks & #16 on Modern Rock Tracks. "Top of the Pops" peaked at #19 on Mainstream Rock Tracks & #2 on Modern Rock Tracks & like "Yesterday Girl" has a repetitive chorus that's very commercial. "Too Much Passion" was their next to last charting single that peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100; with the opening violins you know this is pure Top 40 pop with a dash of soul. "Miles From Nowhere" was their last charting single & peaked at #17 on Mainstream Rock Tracks. The album closes with a cover version of "Time Won't Let Me" from the movie Timecop. This has been covered by a ton of groups & was a major hit for the Outsiders from 1966. "Time Won't Let Me" is really a great song for the Smithereens; it contains all of the elements that make up the group. It's pop, jangly, has a lot of harmony & space to do a great short guitar solo. Their version isn't particularly any better than the original or anybody else's for that matter.

The Smithereens was a group that should have done better but didn't. For the casual fan this is a great collection of songs. After listening to it you'll be wondering why these guys didn't last longer or gotten more recognition. Great collection!.


A shame I missed them
It makes me regret that I missed out on enjoying them while they were at their peak. This is a terrific collection. I took notice after hearing them on a Rhino box set, and checking them out further via Rhapsody. Every song is a winner.


But....
It's their first song that I heard and absolutely had to have, having heard it for the very first time on the "I Was A Teenage Zombie" soundtrack album. But, will never understand why the song "Time and Time Again" is not included.


You can see a complete list of all The Smithereens discography, or go back to the The Smithereens tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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